Automatic rifle



S. OLIVER.

AUTOMATiC RIFLE.

APPLICATION man FEB. 3. 1919.

Patented July 5, 1921.A

2 SHEETS--SHEET l.

Duvel* .l .il

S. OLIVER.

AUTOMATIC RIFLE.

i APPLICATION man rEB.a.1919.

Patented July 5, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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XII/115111111 ...I-C En l 2 bullet; to provide means for limiting Aram ortica.l

srAcY oLrvER, or 1L/Marroni), coNNEcrIcU'r.

AUTOMATIC RIFLE.

Lacasse. i

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 5, 1921.

Application led"February 3, 1919. Serial No. 274,689.-

To all whom t may concer/n:

Be it known that I, STACY OLIVER, a citizen of the United States residing at Hartford, in the county of I-artford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements' in "Automatic Rifles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic rifles of the type wherein the bolt is'projected or retracted bythe force of the recoil from the discharge of a cartridge, during which retracting movement of the bolt and firin pin, the spent shell is extracted and ejecte from the gun and the new cartridge placed in position for feeding into the cartridge carrying chamber ofthe riie and also during which recoil movementthe hammer of the rifle is cocked, completing, when the bolt is moved forward Aby the recoil spring,

the operation of the rifle for discharge.

An object lof this invention is to provide, in an automatic rifle as specified a cartridge clamber carried by the receiver of the ri e at the' breech of the barrel thereof, which cartridge chamber is engaged by a pair of spring hook members for moving the cartridge chamber rearwardly a short distance upon the retraction action of the bolt of the rifle to allow the bullet from the discharged cartridge to pass out of or practically pass out of the barrel prior to the exhaust of the gases from the free 'end of the barrel resulting in the utilization of the entire pro; jecting force of the gases for propelling tllie t e outward or retracting movement o the bullet chamber and also to provide means for returning it to its normal position in engagement with the breech end of the barrel after it has reached the limit of its retracted movement. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple hammer `mechanism and trigger mechanism for operating and controlling vthe operation of the hammer as well as to rovide a safety lever which is carried by t e trigger and is adapted to engage the hammer to relieve the ring pinv /of the pressure of the hammer and hammer f spring when the rifle remains idle and lalso to eliminate liability ofaccidental discharge of the ril-le in case the vhammer should be accidentally operated in any other manner firing pin to than through or by the operation of the trigger and its companion mechanism.

therobjects of the invention will appear inthe followin detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and'in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section throu h the rifle showing the same in position fbr firing.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section showing the sliding bolt and cartridge chamber in elevation and also showing these members starting a retardimc,` action.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section throu h the riie showing the`bo1tretracted an the cartridge chamber in positionfor receiving a new or unexploded cartridge. f

Fig. 4 is a fra rifle illustratin cally lockin taken on a vertical plane through the cartridge chamber and the forward end of the sliding bolt illustrating the connection between the bolt and the cartridge chamber.

Fig). 7 is an en d elevation of the cartridge cham er, and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary View of the hammer and trigger mechanism of the rifle,-

illustrating theoperation of the safety lever for holding the hammer aWayMfrom the relieve the firing pin of the pressure of the hammer spring.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like and corresponding parts throu hout the several views, 1 indicates the barrel of the rifle, the rear or breech en d of which engages into the receiver 2. This receiver 2 comprises the frame which carries the operating mechanism of the-rifle, and it also carries a barrel screw 3 which extends diagonally through the forward projecting lower end of the receiver andengages in Aa.

notch 4 formed in the barrel for connecting the barrel to the receiver. The usual type of hand guard 5 is mounted over the portion of the receiver carrying the barrel screw 3 and engages thevunder surface ofthe barrel 1.

The receiver 2 carries a cartridge chamber 6 the forward end of which abuts the free end of the barrel 1 when in a cartridge carrying position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. This cartridge chamber 6 is provided with a pair of dia wardly with the movement of the bolt, per-' mitting the bullet to pass practically entirely out of the barrel 1 prior to the exhaus't of the gases through the breech end of the rifle, thereby allowing utilization of the maximum projecting force of the exploded gases in the cartridge, for propelling the bullets. The rearward movement of the chamber 6 is limited by the chamber stop screw 11 carried by the receiver 2 and engaging in an elongated recess 12 in the lower portion of the chamber. When the chamber reaches the limit of its rearward movement, the pressure or rearwardvpull of the bolt 10 upon the hooks 8 will cause them, owing tothe .resiliency of the springs or arms 9 to slip out of the notches 7 dis.- connecting the ,bolt and the chamber. The chamber 6 is. then Ireturned to lits norm-al position so that its forward end-will engage the breech end of the barrel 1 by spiral springs 13 which are coiled about bolts 14 threaded into the breech end ofthe barrel 1 and extending through the chamber 6, at diametrically opposed points and substantially at 45 from the notches\ 7. The springs 13 are' seated in relatively largerecesses in the chamber and their outer or forward ends engage against the inner ends of the recesses, while rear ends engage against theheads 15 of the bolts 14. These springs are? compressed, during the retracting movement of the chamber 6 and when the chamber is released .from connection with the d hooks 8, the springs 13 expand to return the chamber tothe cartridge receiving position as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. e j

The chamber 6`is also provided with a recess 16 in its rear end which opens into they borel 1 7 of the chamber and is adapted for receivlng the cartridge rim engaging end of the extractor 18 which is carried by the striker end 23 thereo spiral spring 32.

cartridge during the retracting action of the bolt. After the shell hasbeen extracted forward end of the recoil spring 21 engages the shoulder formed by the reducing of the bore of the bolt 10 while its rear end engages against the rear end 22 of the receiver 2, this spring returns the boltto its forwardposition after the recoil of the cartridge has spent itself. The bolt 10 is provided with an opening communicating with the axial bore and through the forward end of the bolt which receives the striker end 23 of the firing pin which engages a cartridge as indicated at 24 for exploding the cartridge when the firing pin is operated by the opgeration of the hammer as will be hereinafter specifically described. The spring 25 is carried within the bolt 10 and engages the forward end of therin pin 20 to hold thc out of engagement with the cartridge in the chamber 6.A

The receiver 2 is provided with a well or magazine 26 in which a follower spring 27 is placed, this follower spring 27 is preferably a fiat spring sinuously'bent and the cartridges in the well rest upon the uppermost length of this sprin they being forced or urged upwardly by t e expanding action of the spring so that when the bolt 10 reaches the rearward limit or the limit of its re- A tracted movement, and the shell of the spent into the bore 17 and the chamber 6 whereA it will be .in position to be discharged by actuation of the firing pin 20 through the medium of the hammer of the rifle.

The terminal of the follower spring 27' is returned or bent downwardly and laterally as shown at 29, forming a lip for engagement with the laterally extending lug 30 formed upon the bolt locking lug 31. The locking lug 31 is slidably mounted in the receiver 2 and is normally held in a downward or retracted osition by a Ycontracting en the last cartridge has been fed from the well or magazine 26,

engage the lip 30 and force the end 29 of the follower spring 27 lwill the locking lug 31 upwardly so that its upper end wi engage in a recess 33 formed in the bolt 10 to lock the bolt in a retracted or rearward position as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, thereby preventing the automatic closing of the` breech of the rifle when the same is not loaded. If it is desired to close the breech or allow vthe bolt 10 to move forwardly without the placin of a cartridge in the chamber 6, the spring 2 l may be manually forced downwardly to allow the lug 31 to fall sufficiently to 'disenga e it from the n otch 33 after which the-bo t 10 will be returned or moved forwardly by the expandinaction of the recoil spring 21.

he receiver or frame 2 is provided intermediate its ends with the recoil block 34 slidably disposed beneath `the firing pin 10 and vertically movable within thereceiver. The block 34 is vertically slotted and held in place by a pin' 35 passing through the slot and against which an expansion spring 36 bears. The spring 36 urges the block 34 upwardly. The upperv face of the block 34 hasnear its forward edge an abrupt inclined shoulder adapted to bear against the shoulder or depressing lug 37 of the bolt 10 to take u toa large extent the recoil of the bolt w en the cartridge is fired or exploded. The rear portion of the upper face or end of the block 34 has anelongated cam face adapted to engage the pro'e'ction or shoulder 37 and yieldably retar the forward advance of the bolt subsequent to its recoil. The block 34 thus absorbs shock incident tothe retraction of the bolt, and also retards the forward thrust of the bolt in feeding the cartridges to the firing chamber. v

A stop pin or anvil 38 is carried by the frame or receiver 2 and engages the under surface of the bolt l0. The stop 38 is adapted to Strike the depending lug or shoulder 37 on the bolt 10 when the latter is noved into its forward position.,

The firing pin 2O has a knurled head 39 upon its rear end and it is also provided with a hammer engaging rounded portion 40 which is engaged b t e striking face 414 of the hammer 42. T e hammer 42 is pivotally mounted upon a suitable pin 43 carried by the frame or receiver 2 of the rifle and it is provided with a cut out portion extending inwardly from lts rear edge. 'A

suitable lug 44 is connected to the hammer and projects upwardly into the said recess, being engaged by the forward free end of the hammer spring 45. The hammer spring 45 extends rearwardly into a suitable recess formed in the stock 46 of the rifie, being connected to the frame 2 by a suitable bolt or set screw 47. The spring 45 normally urges the hammer 41 forwardly jor receiver 2.

end of the hammer spring 45 extends, for

holding .the hammer 1n a cocked position. The sear 48 is urged into a position for engagement with the said shoulder by a spiral spring 51. The sear 48 is further provided with a shoulder 52 upon its forward corner and this shoulder is engaged by the upper end of a flat spring 53 which is the trigger 54. The trigger 54 is pivotally mounted upon a pin 55 carried by the frame 2 and the l'inger strip 56 thereof projects outwardly out of the frame 2 as 1s ordinaryI in trigger constructions, it being guarded or surrounded by a suitable trigger guard 57.

The trigger 54 is normally urged forwardly by the trigger spring 58, one end of which is connected to the trigger 54 and the other end to a pin 59 carried by the frame A safety lever 60 is pivotally connected as shown at 61 to the trigger 54 and it is provided with an upwardly extending substantially straight portion 62 which engages against the shoulder 63 formed upon the receiver or frame 2 at the rear end fof the same. The safety lever 60 is normally held in engagement with the shoulder 63 by the spring 64 which is connected to the lever and to the pin 59. The rear edge of the lever a-t its upper end is beveled as shown at 65 and this beveled edge is provided for engagement `against a downwardly facing shoulder 66 formed upon the hammer 42, as shown in Fig. 8.of the drawings' to hold the striking face 41 of the hammer out of engagement with the end 40 of the vfiring pin to release the firing pin of the pressure of the hammer and the hammer spring 45 and also to prevent accidental discharge of the riiie in case the hammer 42 should be j arred loose from a cocked position, during the handling of the rifle. The safety lever 60 is connected to the trigger 54 in-such manner that when the trigger is moved rearwardly upon its pivot 55, for releasing the hammer 42 from the restraining action df the sear 48, the lever will be moved downwardly along the shoulder 63 sucient distance to move it out of the path of the shoulder 66, allowing the striking face 41..'of the hammer to strike the end 40 of the firing pin 20 and longitudinally displace the firing pin forV discharging the shell or cartridge placed inV carried by Nmagazine 26 withVY cartridges it is necessaryY also the protruding end. of the firing pin 20 and its knurledhead 39 to preventv accidental operation of either of these members by their coming in-contactwith or setting upon an article.

The receiver 2 carriesany ordinary .or preferred type lof rear sight 71 while the barrel 1 carries any preferred type of front sight 72. Y.

Summing up, the operation of the automaticV riie is generically as follows: In the initial charging .or filling of the well or to cock the hammer 42 and forcedown the plunger 34, by means of a button on the outside of the frame or receiver 2, and manually withdraw or retract the bolt 10 by pullirn rearwardly upon the firing pin 20. The bo t 10 is connected to the firing pin 20 by a pin 74 which extends diametrically through the firing pin, at the forward end of the same, being seated in an elongated slot 75 to permit limited movement of the firing pin independently of the bolt 10. After the-magazine or well 28 has been filled with the cartridges 24 and one of the car. tridges has been properly positioned fol forcing into the chamber 6, the bolt 10 is released and the spring 21 will move the bolt forwardly forcing vthe cartridge into the chamber 6. The retracting movement of the bolt 10 and firin pin 20,will force the hammer 42 into a coc ed position, where it will be held by the engagement of the lip 50 of the scar 48 t e upwardly facupon ,ing 'shoulder formed y the recess 51. The

hammer 42 will be relieved from .the restraining action of the sear 48 when the trigger 54' is moved rearwardly upon its pivot, rocking the sear to move the lip 50 out of engagement with the said shoulder when the hammer spring 45 will force the it to impactagainst the end 40 of the rmg pin 20 to discharge the cartridge 24. The recoil of' hammer 42 forwardly, causi the cartrid e will force fthe bolt 10 rearwardly an during the .initial rearward movement of the bolt, the cartridge chamber 6 will be moved therewith, allowing the bullets or projectiles to pass substantially entirely out of the barrel 1 prior to the release of the gases from the breech end of the rie. When the chamber 6 has moved the limit of its rearward movement as regulated by the chamber stop screw 11, the

hook 8 will move out of engagement withI the notches 7 allowing the springs 13 to eX- pand and return the chamber 6 to its normal position, during which movement and the further rearward movement of the bolt 10, the shell of the said cartrid es will be 'extracted from the chamber 6 y the extractor 18 and ejected by the ejector 19. Upon the ejection of the shell of the spent cartridge the new cartridge will be forced Lacasse by the follower sprin 27 into alinement with the bore of the c amber 6, so that it will be forced therein by the return or forward movement of the bolt. 10. The rearward movement of the bolt 10 and iri pin 20 carried thereby will set the trigger and. hammer mechanism, in position` to discharge the cartridge last forced into the bore of the chamber 6 when the trigger 54 is moved rearwardly. The above cycle of operation is repeated upon each/.discharge of the riie.

Changes in details'may be made without (lleparting from the spirit of the invention,

I claim:

1. In an automatic rifle, in combination,

ing the chamber to the bolt for retracting the chamber when the bolt is retracted, means for limiting the retraction of the chamber and releasing the same from said bolt whereby said chamber is adapted to move with the bolt through a predetermined retracting distance, and means carried by the chamber and connected to said barrel for returning the chamber to a bullet receiving position.

2. In an automatic rifle, the combination i of a barrel, a cartridge chamber, means for feeding cartridges into said chamber, yieldable means carried by the bolt adapted for interlocking engagement with the chamber for retracting the same with the bolt, means for releasing the chamber from the bolt when the chamber `is retracted through a pre-determined distance, means for returning the chamber to a bullet receiving position, and means carried vby the bolt for extracting the spent shellfrom the chamber after the retracting movement of the chamber has been arrested.

3. In an automatic rifle, the combination, of a barrel, a cartridge chamber, means for feeding cartridges into alinement with said chamber, a recoil operated bolt for forcing cartridges into saidl chamber, said chamber provided with a pair of recesses in its rear end, a pair of fiat springs carried by said bolt and having hooked end portions adapted to engagein said recesses for connecting the chamber and bolt to retract the chamber upon retraction of the bolt.

4. In an automatic rifle, the combination, of'a barrel, a cartridge chamber, means for feeding cartridges into alinement with said chamber, a recoil operated bolt for forcing cartridgesI into said chambelgsaid chamber provided with a pair of recesses in its rear bolt and having hooked end portions adapted to engage in said recesses for connecting the chamber and bolt to retract the chamber upon retraction of the bolt, means forlimlting the retracting movement of said chamber, said hook member adapted to disengage said recesses, whereby the chamber will move with the bolt for only a part of the retracting movement of the bolt.

5. In an automatic rifle, the combination, of a barrel, a cartridge chamber, means for feeding cartridges into alinement with said chamber, a recoil operated bolt for forcing cartridges into said chamber, said chamber provided with a pair of recesses in its rear end, a air of ilat springs carried by said bolt and) having hooked end portions adapted to engage in said recesses for connecting the chamber and bolt to retract the chamber ,upon retraction oi the bolt, means for limiting the retracting movement of said cham- 4 ber, said hook member ada ted to disengage said recesses, whereb the c mber will move with the bolt for o y a part of the retracting movement of the bolt, and means carried by the chamber and connected to said barrel end, a pair of at springs carried b for returning the chamber to a cartridge receiving positlon.

6. In an automatic rie, thecombination, of a barrel, a cartridge chamber, means for feeding cartridges into alinement with said chamber, a recoil operated bolt for forcing cartridges into said chamber, said chamber provided with a pair of recees in its rea sa1 bolt and having hooked end portions a apted to engage in said recesses for connecting the chamber and bolt to retract the chamber upon retraction of the bolt, means for limit,- ing the retracting movement of said chamber, said hook member adapted to disengage said recesses, whereby the chamber will move with the bolt for only a part of the retracting movement of the bolt, and means carried by the chamber and connected to said barrel for returning the chamber to a, bullet receiving position. andmeans carried by the bolt for extracting they spent shell from the chamber after the retracting movement of -the chamber has been arrested.

STACY OLIVER. 

